COUNTRIES

Some commentators on social media justify the homicide of Saltanat Nukenova, wife of ex-head of the ministry of national economy of Kazakhstan, by religion. CABAR.asia asked experts if religion truly justifies abuse of women. (more…)

There are eight female monastic communities, including two monasteries, in North Kazakhstan region. Nuns stage performances at one of them, and never leave another one. CABAR.asia reveals more interesting things taking place in monasteries. (more…)

Should religious content be evaluated by the state before being posted on social media? Statutory provisions in this regard are vague and enable broad interpretation. The editorial staff of CABAR.asia discovers why such interpretation is possible and if there is the need for evaluation of all religious materials. (more…)

“Will niqab, hijab and short pants be forbidden?” Journalists asked this question to the minister of culture and information of Kazakhstan. According to Aida Balayeva, “We will definitely study these norms and offer our solutions.” This answer came amid parliamentary inquiries about “strange movements under the guise of Islam” threatening the principles of the Kazakh society.

(more…)

Kazakhstan should live according to Sharia law, according to Nurtas Adambai, a prominent Kazakh actor and director. How does the republic assess this statement? (more…)

“My daughter wears a headscarf and she is not allowed to attend public school. I teach her at home, and she also attends the course of English at the training centre,” a mother based in West Kazakhstan region said wondering why her child cannot pursue secondary education. (more…)

“I am a religious person, and I thought that people would be honest and I wanted to invest some money in the campaign,” a Kazakhstani man who invested his money in the Ponzi scheme, Mudarabah Capital, explained his behaviour. The scheme has duped 200 persons. Why did they rise to the ‘religious’ bait so easily?

(more…)

In Kazakhstan, religious symbols have become the corporate marketing tools. Experts, interviewed by CABAR.asia, specify several reasons why it happens in the secular state.

(more…)

Is it the ideological revolution, tribute to the fashion, a way to get married, or a paid flash mob?  These are the motives behind the new phenomenon in Kazakhstan social media: girls with many followers on Instagram, so-called insta celebrities, started wearing hijabs. CABAR.asia is figuring out what or who could stay behind the ‘mass veiling.” (more…)

The problem of Kazakhstan, as well as other ex-Soviet countries, is the assurance that religion a priori carries threat, in particular, to the political structure and cultural identity, experts say. Therefore, religion laws contain provisions that discriminate against religious people. (more…)